Pneumatic Cushions with Reinforcing Members or Braces

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic cushion having an inner pneumatic structure constructed from a casing and webs or a plurality of tubes. The webs produce a plurality of chambers. The inner pneumatic structure may be pressurised at a pressure p 1 . At least one reinforcing and stiffening means is present on or in the pneumatic structure and disposed in such a manner that the pneumatic cushion&#39;s dimensional stability is increased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to pneumatic cushions, particularly forsitting, reclining and lying cushions.

2. History of Related Art

Many kinds of pneumatic cushions are known in the art. Efforts havealready been made to incorporate these into the production of chairs andbeds, or else flat structures.

The simplest way of achieving this is by installing tubes side by side,each of which is round in cross-section. An example of this that can beused here is the traditional airbed. The individual tubes are usuallyinterconnected in such a manner as to form one or two continuous airchambers.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,401 (Dl) the tubes are interconnected in such amanner that part of a tube wall is also part of the tube wall of asecond tube. A quasi coming-together of the individual tubes can therebybe achieved. The individual tubes lie on one or two levels, depending onthe configuration.

However, the disadvantage of Dl is that such a design only has a lowinherent stability. These flat pneumatic structures quickly buckle whensubjected to a load or have to be highly pressurised, which makes themhard and uncomfortable.

The object of the invention is to create cushions offering a high degreeof comfort, in particular for sitting, lying or reclining on, which atthe same time have a stable, sustainable form.

The object is solved as described in the characterising clause of patentclaim 1, in relation to its essential features, and in the dependantclaims, in relation to the other advantageous features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cushions in the invention have an inner pneumatic structure. Thispneumatic structure creates at least one gas-tight chamber. The bars orwebs are fitted or disposed on or in the pneumatic structure. Cushionsconstructed in this manner are particularly suitable as sitting,reclining and lying cushions. They may, in particular, be used in itemsof furniture such as seats, chairs and beds, but also in means oftransport.

In a first embodiment of the inventive idea, bars are integrated in thepneumatic structure. In a second embodiment, pneumatic webs are used,which are likewise integrated in the pneumatic structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the pneumatic cushions of the presentinvention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings,wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 3 show different pneumatic structures with reinforcing bars,

FIG. 4 shows a pneumatic web,

FIG. 5 shows another pneumatic web,

FIGS. 6 to 8 show different pneumatic structures with differentpneumatic webs.

FIG. 1 shows a pneumatic structure 1, which is made from a gas-tightcasing and webs 3. The webs 3 run from the top to the bottom of thecasing 2. The webs 3 may be made from the same material as the casing,but they may also be composed of a gas-permeable substance or a film.The webs produce chambers 4, which can be interconnected. Whenpressurised, board-like cushions, for example, can thereby be created.In FIG. 1, some of the webs 3 are provided with pockets 7. Bars 10 aredisposed in the pockets 7. These bars 10 may be made from plastic, ametal such as aluminium, or wood, for example. When a weight is applied,the webs 3 with the bars 10 cannot loose their shape as easily as thosewithout bars 10. This effect is reinforced when the webs 3 can betightened or else subjected to tensile forces by means of the excesspressure p₁ in the pneumatic structure.

In a variant of the embodiment, the bars 10 or flexible bars 11 aredisposed in pockets 7 in the casing 2. Likewise, the bars 10, 11 canalso be adhered externally, for example, to the casing 2. Again, bars 10or flexible bars 11, as depicted in FIG. 1, can be used for this. Theflexible bars 11 have the property of being able to adopt a flat formlike the bars 10 without external forces. If the pneumatic structure 1is pressurised, the casing 2 adopts its characteristic convex formbetween the bars. This means that the flexible bars 11 are bentessentially crossways to their longitudinal axis. In this bent form, theflexible bars 11 are buckle-proof, like the bars 10, and are able toproduce the same reinforcing effect. In FIG. 1 the flexible bars 11 aredisposed by way of example on the bottom and on the edge of thepneumatic structure. So that the flexible bars 11 can even be bent atlow pressures of below 50 kPa (500 mBar), it is advantageous for theinner layer of the casing 2 at the pockets 7 to be made from an airtightmaterial. In this way, the pressure p₁ acts from within by means of theinner layer of the casing 2 on the flexible bars 11.

In order to prevent a bar 10 or a flexible bar 11 from being felt asunpleasant when sat upon, for example, it may be covered with padding 13or the padding 13 is simply placed between the bar 10, 11 and the casing2. In FIG. 2 the pneumatic structure 1 has, in addition, a central,horizontal web 3, which produces upper and lower chambers 4 in thepneumatic structure. To the left in FIG. 2, pockets are disposed in thehorizontal web 3 between one upper and one lower chamber 4. The pockets7 each contain a bar 10, one with a triangular and one with a squarecross-section. On the right side of FIG. 2 is a pocket 7 at anintersection between a vertical and the horizontal web 3. Inserted inthis pocket 7 is a pipe-shaped bar 10. Furthermore, inserted in thepockets 7 on the right side of FIG. 2 are gas-tight tubes 6 or generallygas-tight bladders. The advantage of this pneumatic structure design isthat elastic materials can also be used for the gas-tight tubes 6.Materials with limited extensibility can now be used for the casing 2and the shaping webs 3, which need not also be simultaneously gas-tight.A functional separation can thereby be achieved.

FIG. 2 further contains a schematic representation of a cover 9. Thiscover 9 satisfies purely aesthetic requirements, as it represents theonly visible component of a cushion constructed in this way.

The pneumatic structure 1 in FIG. 3 is constructed solely from gas-tightand limited extensibility tubes 6. In this case, the tubes 6 aredisposed by way of example in two layers. Bars 10 are disposed betweenthe tubes 6, which are connected to the tubes 6 at the joints 8.Examples of suitable methods of connection are welding and gluing. Thejoints may, of course, also be made in segmented or point form.

Between the upper and lower layer of tubes 6 in FIG. 3, a bar 10 isinserted as a further variant, which runs essentially orthogonally tothe tubes 6. The bar 10 can of course be aligned in any way. In order tosave on weight, the bars 10, 11, may also be latticed or perforated.

FIG. 4 shows a pneumatic web 19. It is made from an essentiallycigar-shaped hollow body 20 and a compression bar 22, which is attachedto it or inserted between two layers in a pocket 7 in the hollow body20. The compression bar 22 has a flat cross-section and is flexible, sothat it lies arcuately along its longitudinal axis against the hollowbody 20, if the latter is pressurised. In this functional, curved form,the compression bar 22 is significantly stiffer than in its flat,non-functional form. The compression bar 22 may be constituted in such away that it is rollable in its non-functional form, so that it operatesin a similar way to a roll-up tape measure. A structural element 19designed in this manner is therefore able to strengthen a cushion and befolded or rolled away along with the pneumatic web 19 in thedepressurised state.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of the pneumatic web 19. In addition to thehollow body 20 and the compression bar 22, tie bands 21 are disposed.They run to the left and right, turning helically around the hollow body20 from one end of the compression bar 22 to the other or to nodalelements 23 attached to the ends of the hollow body 20. If the hollowbody 20 is pressurised, the tie bands 21 become taut and push thecompression bar 22 against the hollow body 20. The compression bar 22itself absorbs the tensile forces of the tie bands 21 and is therebypressurised along its longitudinal axis. Since in this case thecompression bar 22 is additionally pressed in its functional formagainst the hollow body 20, the pneumatic web 19 is very rigid in thisembodiment and can likewise be rolled up in its non-functional form.

Details of the pneumatic webs 19 can be obtained from WO 01/73245,PCT/CH2004/000111 and CH 01259/03 held by the same applicant.

The pneumatic webs 19 can of course also be constructed with two or morecompression bars 22, with only one or a plurality of tie bands, or elseone or more elements, which are suitable for absorbing tensile forces.Non-cylindrical forms of the hollow body 20 are also included in thebasic idea underlying the invention. Furthermore, the tie bands 21 andthe compression bar 22 may be interconnected in such a manner that thelongitudinal axis of the pneumatic web 19 starts to bend under pressure.Likewise, the use of rigid, dimensionally stable compression bars 22 isconceivable and in accordance with the invention.

In order for the pneumatic webs 19 to adopt their functional form, theynaturally have to be subjected to a pressure greater than their ambientpressure.

FIG. 6 shows a pneumatic structure essentially identical to that inFIG. 1. However, pneumatic webs 19 are inserted in a small number ofchambers 4, which essentially fill these chambers 4. Likewise, one ofthe webs 3 is provided with a pocket 7, in which a pneumatic web 19 isinserted. The pneumatic webs 19 are subjected to a pressure p₂, p₂>p₁,which gives them their essentially round cross-section. The pneumaticwebs 19 illustrated have flexible compression bars 22, which perform thesame function as the flexible bars 11. Since a small number of chambers4 are filled at a pressure p₂, p₂>p₁, it may be appropriate in the caseof these chambers once again to insert padding 13 between the casing 2and the pneumatic webs 19. It is, of course, also conceivable thatpneumatic webs 19 with two or more flexible compression bars should beused and the pneumatic webs 19 turned in such a way, for example, thatthe compression bar 22 does not lie underneath, as depicted in FIG. 6,but on the top.

FIG. 7 shows a pneumatic structure 1 constructed in accordance with theright side of FIG. 2. Inserted in the pocket 7 at the intersectionbetween the horizontal and a vertical web 3 is a pneumatic web 19 withtwo compression bars 22 and four tie bands 21. This hollow body 20 isalso subjected to a pressure p₂, p₂>p₁. FIG. 8 shows a pneumaticstructure 1 constructed in accordance with the right side of FIG. 2.This time, there is a pneumatic web 19 with only one compression bar 22and two tie bands 21 inserted in the pocket 7 at an intersection point.Pneumatic webs 19 with one or two flexible compression bars 22 aredisposed in lower chambers 4. The differently designed pneumatic webs 19are naturally interchangeable.

The pneumatic webs 19, like the bars 10, 11, may also be attachedoutside the pneumatic structure 1. Furthermore, they can also be used tocreate latticework, which supports the pneumatic structure 1 internallyor externally. For example, four pneumatic webs 19 can be added togetherto produce a framework, which surrounds a square pneumatic structure 1or is inserted in it.

In generalised form, it is conceivable that not only a pressure p₁ and apressure p₂ could be used. With different pressures p₁ in differentchambers 4, for example, the pressures p₂ of the pneumatic webs 19 mustbe selected, such that they are greater than the pressures p₁ in theadjacent chambers 4.

In embodiments in which bars 10, 11 or compression bars 22 are disposedright under the casing 2, in other words, under the outermost skin ofthe pneumatic structure 1, it is conceivable for these bars 10, 11, 22to be provided with mounting or connecting means. For example, in bars10, 11, 22 threads can be added, so that the cushions can be screwed toa frame.

The embodiments described and illustrated in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 8should be understood as mutually replaceable and combinable. It isconceivable for a pneumatic structure 1 to be equipped with only onetype of reinforcing bar 10, 11 or pneumatic web 19 or different typescombined together.

The pneumatic structures 1 may be used as cushions as they are or theymay be provided with a cover 9. The cover may be removable andseparately washable, for example.

At this point, reference is simply made to the means necessary in orderto control and guarantee pressurisation in the various embodiments. Theperson skilled in the art will have an adequate knowledge of pressurevessels, valves, lines and control panels.

1. A pneumatic cushion comprising: an inner pneumatic structureconstructed from a casing and webs or a plurality of tubes; wherein thewebs produce a plurality of chambers; wherein the inner pneumaticstructure may be pressurised at a pressure p1; and, at least onereinforcing and stiffening means is present on or in the pneumaticstructure and disposed in such a manner that the pneumatic cushion'sdimensional stability is increased.
 2. The pneumatic cushion accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing and stiffening meansconsists of a bar, a flexible bar, or a pneumatic web.
 3. The pneumaticcushion according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reinforcing andstiffening means is disposed outside, inside or in the casing, on or inthe webs or between two tubes of the plurality of tubes in the innerpneumatic structure.
 4. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 3,wherein the at least one reinforcing and stiffening means is disposed ina chamber of the plurality of chambers and/or pocket formed by adouble-walled area of the casing or the webs.
 5. The pneumatic cushionaccording to claim 2, wherein the flexible bar is bent essentiallycrossways to its longitudinal axis and thereby becomes buckle-proof. 6.The pneumatic cushion according to claim 2, wherein the characterised inthat the at least one pneumatic web consists of a gas-tight, essentiallycigar-shaped hollow body and at least one compression bar lying againstthe hollow body and can be subjected to a pressure p2, p2>p1.
 7. Thepneumatic cushion according to claim 6, wherein the at least onecompression bar is flexible and is bent during pressurisation of thehollow body essentially crossways to its longitudinal axis, lyingagainst the hollow body.
 8. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 2,wherein the pneumatic web is disposed in the pneumatic structure in sucha manner that it fills a chamber of the plurality of chambers or apocket in the pressurised state.
 9. The pneumatic cushion according toclaim 1, wherein a framework is created from reinforcing and stiffeningmeans, which supports the pneumatic structure from inside or outside.